Window with sash locking spring



1951 B. M. ALTWIES WINDOW WITH SASH LOCKING SPRING Original Filed Dec. 6, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

Inventor: B, M: AHiwl'es NOV. 20, 1951 ALTWlEs 2,575,575

WINDOW WITH SASH LOCKING SPRING Original Filed Dec. 6 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6 20 7 e 33- 34 1 /3s I85 Inventor: B. M. Altwi Nov. 20, 1951 B. M. ALTWIES WINDOW WITH SASH LOCKING SPRING Original Filed 05c. 6, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.

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Inventor:

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 WINDOW WITH SASH LOCKING SPRING Benjamin M. Altwies, Fostoria, Ohio Original application December 6, 1948, Serial No. 63,800. Divided and this application March 31, 1950, Serial No. 153,173

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to windows and has for its principal object the provision of a unit that can readily be placed in position in the window opening of a building and may carry two or more sashes preferably with metal frames in which the operation of the sashes is more convenient and positive and in which any or all of the sashes may readily be removed by one not familiar with tools.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved ribbed track, one portion of which may be permanently secured in place and the other may be held solely by the window frame and the sashes. A further object is to provide a screen sash so located that it can readily be moved from the usual summer position to a storage space in the window unit and the upper sash may be latched in normal raised position unaffected by the raising or lowering of the screen sash. An incidental object is to provide a spring latch for each of the two glazed sashes for convenient locking of either or both of these sashes in normal position with means for readily and easily releasing either sash.

Other objects of the invention concern details all of which together provide a more satisfactory window, one which will give long service without any attention. still other objects of the invention are pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exterior elevation of the window.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section.

Figure 3 is a partial horizontal section.

Figure 4 is a corner elevation partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a stile and a rail before assembly.

Figure 8 is an inside elevation of the lower sash lock.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the lower sash lock.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section view thru the lower sash lock.

Figure 11 is an edge view of the track.

Figure 12 is a side view of the track.

Figure 13 shows a modified form of leaf spring and the cutaway at the top of the screen sash.

Figure 14 illustrates a modified form of pull for the screen sash.

Figure 15 is a section thru the modified form Which is shown in elevation.

Figure 16 shows a modified form of triple track.

My window includes a frame top or head Ill and two frame sides l i, all three being of identical cross section and a bottom rail I2, of sill shape. In this frame are mounted a top sash 14, a bottom or lower sash i5, and. between these is located a screen sash H6, in Figure 1 shown as being moved part way into the storage space for it, located behind the upper sash 14.

Referring now particularly to Figure 2, each of the sashes has a top rail l1. Where it is convenient to distinguish between the various rails the top rail of the upper sash will be denoted IIu, the top rail of the screen I'ls, and the top rail of the lower sash I8b. The corresponding lower rails are denoted generally by the numeral I8 and specifically the check rail of the upper sash is Hiu, the bottom rail of the lower sash is l9 and the check rail of the screen is I8s.

These various rails may be of identical cross section but I prefer that the top rails ll of the upper sash and the screen sash shall be smooth but the top rail i8b of the lower window shall correspond in cross section to the three check rails l8 having a slight bulge toward the adjacent sash so that the three sashes fit snugly together as best seen at the center of Figure 2. The bottom rail 19 of the lower sash is identical with the rail II except that it carries a convenient finger piece 19a for ease in raising and lowering this sash which obviously is the most used. The upper and the lower sashes each carry a pane of glass 20 and. the screen sash carries wire cloth 2|.

It is convenient to secure the wire cloth in the screen sash It by means of a vinyl rod 22 altho any other plastic material having the same properties could be substituted. The rod is made of sufiicient softness so that the screen material 2! is at least partially imbedded in the rod 22 when the rod is driven in place in the channels of the rails and stiles of the screen sash l6. Once this rod is driven in place it remains in firm contact with the wire netting and the sash frame, keeping the wire cloth taut.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, inside of the frame member H is an upper track 25 having three ribs 26 integral with and equally spaced on the track back 2?. One of the ribs is flush with one edge of the back while the far rib is spaced inward a bit more than its own thickness from the spacing edge 28 of the track 25. The several stiles are denoted by the numeral 30 and specifically the stile of the upper sash is 30a, the stile of the screen sash is 30s, and the stile of the lower sash is 3%. Each of the stiles 30 carries a plurality of spaced bowed springs 3!, the smallersashes carrying but two while the larger may carry as many as six on each side. An edge view of spring 3] may be seen in Figure 4 indicating that it is flat strip material. One end of each spring may be secured to the stile in any manner as by spot welding or riveting, for example, so that its center bears against the edge of the rib 26. By .means of these springs leach :sash .is constantly held exactly centrally of the frame, the friction being just suflicient to hold it in such place without exerting any great amount of friction when the sashes are-moved.

In Figure 4 there is shown a means for holding the upper sash in position and yet automatically releasing this sash from its latchedposition .when the lower sash is moved to its extreme top-position. The frame top [B is joined to the frame side i I partly by the rivets 32 and partly by a bracket 31 integral with the frame side I l and formed of a portion of its side 33. This bracket is riveted asat .38 to theframe head Hi. It is convenient toindicate the several portions of the cross section of the frame pieces '18 and 1 l, both being madefrom the same-extruded or rolledform. The top iorside .of this formis given the numeral 33 and has'two down-turnedlips, a .frontilip G l and a rear lip 35 between which arerreceived the trackat thetwo sides. "Integral with rthe:frame section side .33 is a widepanel 35 WhiCh'WRIHEtY callltheframe face. :The rivetssl'which may be spot-welds, pass thru the front'lip :35 of the side piece SH and thru the vertical frame :face 53$ .01 the iframehead l8.

' To "secure the upper sash in place there :is an opening '49 thruboth theupper track 2.5 and-the side (33 of the side frame '5 l. A'long'leafrspringdl is secured to the frame side! l as at 42 and itsfree endcarries a pair-of spaced latches d3 whiohaproject thru theopening 39C130 .engage an angular notch da'cut in the upper sash'stile. As the upper sash is raised "it will camthe spring away and will lock itself in position when the spring fil moves to the normal position showninfull lines iniFigure i; The screen sash can'move freely-between '.the two spaced latches "43 but when rthe lower sash (whichlhas nonotcli) is raisediit will cam the spring outward into the dotted :line position-shown in Figure eat which :time either sash-canbe moved. The lower sash is snotlatched in upper position and canbe'freely moved downward no matter whatthe position of the upper sash may be. Sometimes it is convenientito save a bit of metal andmerelyitum thefreeend'offthe spring inward. In this case, howeven'thescreen sash must'be cut away at the .top following the sloping line of thenotch E i and then vertically upward. It is sometimes convenient to bevel or round-off the upper corner of the'lower sash the more conveniently to cam the spring outward w'hetherit be a fiat piece 'or havethe-two latches.

A very convenient manner of forming the corner of each'sash is to out off the two=channel members 59 of the railsection ll leaving a tenon 5! *thru which a'hole52 is formed. This tenonfii slides freely in "the slot '54 in the stile 3'6 being formed'by side members and the central bar '55, which *divides the stile into the larger channel section 5d andthe'smaller section SfiQhaving the two inwardly directedlipsie'i between which is-receivecl'snugly the ribzeof the track '25. When the tenon '5! is snugly engaged in therecess 54, theside metal of the'stile is punchedinto the hole 52 on each side, as indicated by the numeral 58, dotted ini igure 7 to show that the indentation 58 has :not yet been made.

It is sometimes convenient to latch the lower sash in place independently of the other sash or sashes. A convenient latch is shown in Figures 8, 9 and 1G and consists merely in a small plate loose and preferably spaced a bit from the plate 36 of the frame piece l l but pivoting or camming on it. The plate is bent inwardly as at El and :terminates in a (fingerp'iece 52. i t has a hole thru which a rivet loosely passes, therivet being anchored in the side member 33 of the frame. A spring 66 preferably of spiral shape engages the rivetfiiifi and. .holds the plate against the frame member so that the inturned portion 6| slips in anotch $8 .in the frame and in the side of the stile 3.9 which in this case would be the lower sash and :consequently given the number 3017. The lowersash .is readily moved by merely pressing the finger piece 82 to the right as seen in Figures Sand 10.

For convenient movement of the screen sash l 3 there -is provideda pull-down member havinga stem 81 projecting loosely thru a holedn the lower screen rail I-ls'and having a head 82. The finger portion 'ofithis'pull-down and lock is rectangular section, as can be seen from the dotted positioned atthe bottom of Figure .2. In this dottedline positionthe pull-down and lock has passed thru .an opening '85 in'the sill member l2 which it may freely do but when the pu'll-downtis turned atright angles it will lock the screenin-loweredposition since the portion 8-! is free to rotate. It will be .noted that each-of the three sashes has :a :separatelock :of :its own and any one of the three can be operated Lindependently of the other .two.

In order to make it possible-to remove'any one of the sashes at will, the-track is .made in two sections, the upper portion 25 of which ispermanently secured to the :frame while the 'lowersection it is entirely loose but is held in place against the side member .33 of 'the frame piece H by pressure vof the spacing springs 3|. .The upper portions 25 of:the track extends from the top just a little less :thanhalf-way of the frame openingand'the threeribs are out off sharply as at '12 and the backiz'l of'the track is beveled as at l3 to a sharp edge '74. The lower track-section l6 is beveledat :15 corresponding to the'sl'ope of i3 and its pointed and 1.6 is rounded off as best seen in Figure 6. The bevelingofthe lower track leavesthe ribs 2.6 unsupported at their :free'ends, the back of the track being out off -.as at '1 l-so that it is theends of theribs only that are rounded-as at T6. The "function of these parts will best be understood from a description of the assembly of the device.

The-three members of the frame are cut from a :rolled section, the head H! being assembled with the two side pieces H by bending .downlthe bracket piece 3! and spot-welding or riveting it to the side of the head Hi, the side in'this case being .horizontal. The :sill ,portion 11.2 completes the frame. Next the springs 4! are attached to the frame and-the twoupper tracks 25 are permanently attached to the frame extending .a

little less-than half the way down. The frame with its track and spring is now turnedupside down and the :upper sash, the screen :sash, and the lower sashare-placed in the frameassembly, naturally upside down. The two bottom tracks 10 are now pushed in place, the rounded end .16 aiding in sliding the lower'section '18 .into position, and the unit is complete. The sashes so assembledrareheld firmly in place but-can be ,pulled loose byfirst-carefully lifting out .thelower ends of the bottom track sections for example after the window is in position in the home. The outside ribs 26 of the tracks are not used if there is no screen but when the screen is used it invariably slides on the center ribs 26.

If the housewife wishes to remove any sash, she merely elevates all three of the sashes to their uppermost position where they will easily be held by the spacing springs 3| even in absence of the upper sash lock 43. By gently pulling the bottom ends of the lower tracks 10 away from the frame they can be lifted out and then whichever sash is to be removed is lowered to its bottom position. As can be seen from Figure 3 this lowered sash can readily be pulled laterally, that is, inside of the room since the sash well clears the side lips 35 of the frame members. The preference is to make all of the metal pieces of aluminum but the tracks and spring 4| could be of steel, altho usually not, and the springs 3| and 66 would usually be of this material, and cadmium plated. In Figure 4 the spring 3! is shown as placed in a slot 81 in the stile, avoiding the need to spot-weld.

In Figure 13 a modified and often preferred form of leaf spring is illustrated. This spring Ma is of aluminum, about four inches long, and is Welded to the frame. As previously mentioned, when this type of spring is used, the screen sash is cut away as at 88 and 89 and the lower sash Y is beveled as at 90 to form a camming surface.

In Figures 14 and 15 is illustrated a modified form of pull for the screen sash. This pull, 80a has a threaded connection 93 with the screen check rail is and a reduced stem 94 which is caught by a latch 95 pivoted as at 96 to the sill or bottom rail l2 of the frame.

Figure 16 shows a modified form of triple track in which the ribs are a bit thinner and a relief of about .009" is provided at the usually flush side.

This application is a division of my pending application S. N. 63,800 filed December 6, 1948.

What I claim is:

1. Latch means for window sashes, comprising a pair of parallel vertical side frame members each having an opening adjacent its upper end, a spring secured to the outer side of each side frame member and having a free end projecting inwardly through the opening therein so that said free ends of the springs are directed toward each other, a track extending longitudinally on the inner side of each frame member and terminating at one end adjacent said openings, an upper sash and a lower sash slidable on said tracks, the said upper sash having its top edge disposed to engage the inwardly projecting free ends of the springs and displace the same outwardly, and said upper sash having notches on opposite sides below said top edge to receive the free ends of the springs and lock the sash in its upper position, the lower sash having a portion disposed to engage and cam the free ends of said springs outwardly to disengage the same from said notches thereby freeing the upper sash.

2. A retaining device for window sashes, comprising a vertical frame member of channel shape having an opening in its base portion between the two flanges and adjacent its upper end, resiliently biased latching means mounted on the outer side of the frame member having a free end portion projecting inwardly through said opening, vertical guide means for sashes between the flanges of the channel terminating below said opening, a pair of sashes slidable on the guide means each having edge portions disposed to engage the free end of the latch and displace the same outwardly of said opening, one of said sashes having a notch in a side thereof adjacent the top of the sash to receive therein the free end of the latch when said sash is raised thereby to lock the sash in raised position.

3. In combination, a vertical track having a plurality of parallel guides, an upper and a lower sash slidable on said track each having a pair of stile plates connected by a transverse partition to form a major glass receiving portion and a minor' rib receiving portion, the latter being bounded by inturned lips substantially to engage the sides of one of said guides, a resiliently biased latch projecting into the path of the inturned lips at one side of both sashes, a stile plate of the upper sash having a notch in said one side adjacent its upper end to receive the latch and lock the upper sash in position, and the lower sash having a portion disposed when the lower sash is elevated to engage the latch and displace the same outwardly of the path of the upper sash to ,release the latter for movement freely up or down said track so long as the lower sash is engaged with the latch to prevent engagement thereof in the notch of the upper sash.

4. The combination of a window frame, an upper sash having a notch in a side thereof, a lower sash, a track at opposite sides of the frame mounting said sashes for movement in parallel paths, a third sash slidable in said track parallel to the said upper and lower sashes, and latching means anchored with respect to the frame and including a latch resiliently urged to engage the notch in the upper sash when the latter is in elevated position, said latch having a width normally to project into the paths of the lower sash and of the third sash and engageable by said lower sash when raised to cause outward displacement of the latch from the upper sash to release the same, said third sash being cut away at its upper edge to provide clearance for the latch so that said third sash may be moved to raised position without engaging the latch.

5. The combination of a window frame, an upper sash having a notch in opposite sides thereof, a lower sash, a track at opposite sides of the frame mounting said sashes for movement in parallel paths, a third sash slidable in said track, and latching means anchored with respect to the frame and including latch portions resiliently urged to engage the notches in the upper sash when the latter is in elevated position, said latch portions having a width to project normally into the paths of the lower sash and of the third sash and engageable by said lower sash when raised to disengage the latch portions and release the upper sash, said third sash having its upper corners cut away to provide clearance for said latch portions so that the third sash will not engage said latch portions.

6. The combination of a window frame having openings at its opposite side positions adjacent the tops thereof, an upper sash having notches in opposite sides thereof adjacent the top, a lower sash, a track at opposite sides of the frame slidably mounting said sashes, and latching means anchored with respect to the frame comprising flat strips secured to opposite sides thereof and having inturned portions projecting and resiliently urged inwardly through said openings and disposed to engage the notches in the upper sash when in elevated position, said latch portions having a width to project normally into the path of the lower sash and engageable thereby auras-7:;

17 zwhemraised to disengage-'the latch portions from .said notches and release the upper sash.

7. The .latchmeans claimedin claim .1- wherein :the track of each "frame member comprises three 8 the :lowersash. being disposed'when raised to -:engagethe spring and displace theisame outwardly :of the opening in the frame side -por tion and out of engagement with the notch in the upper parallel sash guides, and ascreen sashiisrslidably 5 sash.

mounted on the middle guide .intermediate the upper and lower sashesslidable on therespective outer guides, the screen sash :and'the springs be- .ingrzonstructed to provide clearance for the screen .sash to-slide free of engagementwith the springs.

8..A-.1atching device'for window frames com- :prising;a metal frameyside member :having a .face :portion :and aside portion integral :therewith and normal-thereto, saidside portion having an opening :adjacent the top of the frame side member, ;a multiribbed track member secured tothe said side portion and "terminating below "the opening, a flat leaf spring-securedat its lower end to the outer side of the frame side portion at a point below the top of the track andhaving an upper inwardly bent free end portion resiliently extending inwardly through said opening, an upper sash and a lower sash engaging spaced :ribs of said track forvertical movement in thewindow .-frame-in a path to engage the inturnedfree end of the spring, said spring having a Width to prorject normally into the path of each sash, said upper sash having a latching notch in its side :edge to receive the free end of the ,sprin and BENJAMIN M. ALTWIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 542,726 C1eve1and July 16,1895 607,926 Gelabert July 26,1898 817,461 Adams Apr. 10, 1906 1,434,038 Brodowski Oct. 31, 1922 1,481,775 McKinnis Jan. 22, 1924 1,506,960 Watson Sept. 2, 1924 1,670,087 Walker May 15, 1928 1,730,757 Casha Oct. 8, 1929 2,291,726 Kaufmann Aug. 4, 1942 2,433,835 Beil Jan. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,518 Great Britain Sept. ,2, 1879 228,350 Great Britain Feb. '5, 1925 

